- Interior
In the heart of Baja California, elevated on the side of a rocky desert mountain, a home flaunts breathtaking views of the Sea of Cortez from every angle. This unique design offers an enchanting experience, immersing residents and visitors in enclosed corridors, soothing patios and fascinating water features. Due to an exceptional location, this project redefines the concept of indoor-outdoor living.
The duo of Ponce de León Barragán Arquitectos (Mexico) and RN Interior Design (USA) formed a partnership to tackle this ambitious project.They succeeded in creating a design that offered both privacy and cosiness amid the vast surroundings.Thus, the architecture was led by Ponce de León Barragán Arquitectos, founded and co-directed by architects Arturo Ponce de León and Ivette A. Barragan. Their office has offices in Los Cabos and Guadalajara, Mexico, where they interpret their clients' vision for projects of various scales. The interior design was provided by RN Interior Design, founded and led by Rania Nasser. She specialises in high-quality residential interior design, known both locally and internationally for modern, classic interiors with a European feel, strongly influenced by Rania's multicultural background. 
The two-storey house is nestled atop the highest rugged southern coastal mountains of Baja California Sur (Mexico) at an elevation of 200 metres above the Sea of Cortez. It is located in an exclusive gated community with a private golf and beach club. The open floor plan serves as both a serene retreat and a dynamic social space, seamlessly adapting from intimate seclusion to grandiose gatherings. A unique palette of Mexican wood, veneer and natural stone blends harmoniously with carefully selected contemporary Italian furniture and art. 
A unique palette of Mexican wood, veneer and natural stone
A contemporary design that promotes outdoor living and blurs the boundary between indoor and outdoor spaces, with picturesque views from every angle.Hidden sliding doors surprisingly connect bedrooms, balconies and terraces, creating a transformative effect that turns the house into a beautiful pavilion atop the mountain when fully open.The open floor plan is designed to facilitate extended social interactions while providing a quiet retreat for homeowners.‘The retaining walls follow a linear arrangement and are decorated with locally quarried stone,’ says architect Arturo Ponce de León.‘Native vegetation and rocks were repositioned over the walls.Starting from these walls, the house grows and expands through a composition of horizontal architectural planes with overlapping cantilevers that project outwards and give a sense of lightness and floating.’ From a simplified perspective, the house is divided into two levels.Linear floating ramps (instead of stairs) provide interaction between the two levels.Upon entering the heart of the design, guests are greeted by a beautiful mirrored pond that serves as the focal point of the open-plan living and social spaces. This entrance sequence promotes active social interaction and a memorable spatial experience. 
‘The brief was to create a peaceful haven, so we chose a neutral palette layered with rich textures and monochrome patterns for interest and depth,’ says Rania Nasser. To add warmth, they chose warm wood tones throughout the house. The intended atmosphere she wanted to create, where the residents would feel like they were on holiday in a luxury resort and wanted to stay, more than succeeded in our opinion.
Photography by Rafael Gamo
Architecture by Ponce de León Barragán Arquitectos
Interior design by RN Interior Design
Text by Elke Aerts